Electrical contact



March v 12, 1940. w, OSENBERG 2, 1 93,294

ELECTRICAL CONTACT Filed July 26, 1937 `UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL CONTACT Werner Gsenberg, Dresden, Germany, assigner to Kerb-Konus G. m. b. H., Dresden, Germany l Application July 26, 1937, Serial No.. 155,819 In `Germany November 1, 1934.`

` 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved electrical contact member made from ceramic material or dielectric material having slight or practically no elasticity such as resins, condensation products such as phenolic condensation products, urea formaldehyde resins, etc., and polymerization products, etc.

Heretoiore in electrical apparatus of the type 4mentioned it has been generally customary to attach to the main body of the dielectric an` electrically conductive metallic body such as for instance plug pins orecontacts. The pins or contacts cooperate with a companion piece in order to establish the electrical circuit. In devices i of this type the metallic members secured to the ceramic body generally have the form of projections which extend from the ceramic or dielectric support and have a shape particularly designed for the particular purpose for which the device is to be used in each` instance. In these cases' the metallic members must be secured to the ceramic or dielectric support by screws, cement work or the like which `gives rise to serious difficulties in devices of this type since ordinarily itis extremely difficult to get a permanent integral junction with materials of such different characteristics. It is an object of the invention to improve devices of this' type by eliminating the necessity of cooperatively joining metallic bodies to ceramic bodies or bodies similar thereto in physical characteristics.

A further object of the invention is to devise electrical contact members which are formed in one piece or integral with the ceramic supporting body.

It is a @Further object of the invention te make the projecting portions of such integrally formed ceramic bodies conductive by spraying or fusing on such projecting portions of the ceramic or dielectric body a metallic layer.

A further object of the invention is to entirely eliminate the connection between the metallic contacting portions of the dielectric and the dielectric itself so that securing means such as bolts and screws, cement work and' the like is dispensed with and a simpliiication of construction for devices of this type is secured which not only enhances the appearance but also permanently ensures a correct fitting between the cooperating projections and sockets or grooves which establish the electrical circuit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved manner of applying conductive coatings to ceramic and dielectric objects of the type indicated.

With these and other objects which will appear from the detailed description below, the invention consistsin the arrangement and combination of elements specifically setiorth below, claimed in the claims, andshown in the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional View with a portion thereof shown in elevation of a tube socket manufactured from a molding process which is generallyl used in the manufacture of dielectrics made from ceramic material 'and resins of the type set forth above;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tube socket shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of another type of tube socket;

Fig. 4 isa cross sectional view with a portion shown in elevation of the tube socket shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a partial bottom plan view of a further modified form of tube; and

Fig. 6` is a partial cross sectional view of the tube socket shown in Fig.5.`

, Referring to the drawing, in which like ref-` erence characters indicate like parts, IG indicates a tube socket `made of ceramic material or di-` electric material having similar characteristics with fused or sprayed metal coatings Il thereon.

` Contact points l2 projects as brackets over the edge of the tube socket. Holes or apertures I3 extend throughthe socket walls closely adjacent the contact points l2 and these holes are coated with a metal which isI sprayed or fused thereon so as to be conductive and the coatings are of sulicient depth so as to permit soldering thereto in order that the connecting wires may be soll dered or fused tosuch coatings. The soldering and' the fusing may be done electrically.

In Figs. 3 and 4 a diiierent type of tube socket llis shown. In this case the socket 4l! is constructed of ceramic insulating material which tending from a vacuum tube fused to the socket 40 may be extended through the apertures 42.

The projecting plugs or `pins 4I have their exterior surface coated with a metallic coating 43 which is conductively connected with the metallic coating in the apertures 42.V

In Figs, and 6 the projecting pins 4l have been provided with longitudinally extending slots 45 in order to provide such pins with a slight elasticity for the purpose of making a good electrical contact with their cooperating elements.

This is n accordance with the invention set forth in greater detail in an application filed concurrently.

In the modication shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the soldering holes 4'! intended for receiving the electrode wires are disposed in the bottom of the tube socket d!! near the pins or plugs il and such holes are provided with the metallic conducting coating and are in conducting connection with the metallic coating it provided upon the pins or plugs 4I.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 6 conducting connection strips 44- may be provided if deemed necessary on the inside wall of the tube socket and these may form electrical connections between the plugs or pins 4l and the electrode wires extending from the vacuum tube.

As is evident by means of the present invention set forth above a completely integrated and firm and permanent electrical connection element is provided with no weak and easily dislocated junction.

In carrying out the process outlined above and forming the electrical connecting element it is frequently advisable to coat the ceramic or dielectric support entirely with a metallic coating by means of spraying and the like together with the integral projections provided thereon. Then after the entire connection has been so sprayed or a considerable portion thereofit is merely necessary to remove the superflw ous portions of the metallic coating by grinding or scraping such superfluous portions away in order to secure the requisite spaced interval between various individual contact points. In some cases the nature of the integral projections provided upon the dielectric makes it awkward to provide each individual projection with a separate coating by means of the spraying process and in such case it is far simpler to cover the entire ceramic or dielectric support together with the integral projections thereon with a coating and then to remove superiiuous portions of coating in order to prevent short circuiting.

The above embodiments of the invention are illustrative since it is obvious that the invention is applicable to a wide variety of electrical devices. The basic idea underlying thevarious devices is the integral formation with the dielectric of the projections which have hitherto been made as separate metallic elements of conducting material and then coating such integral projections or surfaces designed to make electrical contact with some cooperating element, with a conducting coating. Obviously, therefore, the modifications above can only serve as illustrative of the extensive field to which the invention is applicable.

I claim:

1. A process of manufacturing an electrical connecting element which comprises forming a dielectric with integral contact support surfaces, then coating said dielectric with an electrically conductive surface and then partially removing said coating to provide clear electrical leads tc said Contact surfaces.

2. A process of manufacturing an electrical connecting element which comprises forming a dielectric with integral contact support surfaces, then coating said dielectric with an electrically conductive surface and then Apartially grinding away said coating to provide clear electrical leads to said contact surfaces.

3. An electrical connecting device comprising a dielectric tube socket, integral pins extending from` said socket having apertures extending therethrough and an electricalljr conductive surface extending through said apertures and upon the exterior of said pins.

4. An electrical connecting device comprising a `dielectric tube socket, integral pins extending from said socket, said device having apertures extending therethrough and an electrically conductive surface extending through said apertures and upon the exterior of said pins.

WERNER OSENBERG. 

